Fundamental changes to the way we deal with large high-rise fires since the Grenfell Tower fire aim to make people safer and demonstrates our willingness to listen, adapt and better serve London’s communities.
We accepted every recommendation made to it by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and we've already implemented 26 of the 29 recommendations directed specifically at us and other fire and rescue services.
Transforming how we deal with high-rise fires
One key recommendation we've completed has seen the introduction of an electronic system to record Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) call information in the control room and display it simultaneously at the bridgehead (a safe working space at least two floors below the fire) and in command units. The FSG app allows information to be exchanged between Control and the incident ground in a timely, accurate and consistent manner.
Our Control handled more FSG calls on the night of the Grenfell Tower fire than it did from across the whole of London in the previous 10 years.
Other policy changes include having dedicated FSG officers and resources at the incident ground and in Control to prioritise calls appropriately and ensure that suitable action to changing circumstances is being taken. Control Officers also now have the ability to call people back, to give up to date information if their evacuation status has changed.
As part of its continuing transformation we are set to launch a public consultation on our Community Risk Management Plan. Called “Your London Fire Brigade” the plan will set out how London Fire Brigade will continue to change and improve so that it can better serve all its communities. Improvements already introduced as part of this transformation have included investing in firefighters so that they’re better prepared to offer support in the event of a Marauding Terror Attack, launching a review of culture across the service and instigating a new set of behavioural standards that set clear expectations for all staff.
London Fire Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe said: “Since the Grenfell Tower fire we have made huge changes to policies, procedures and equipment especially in how we tackle fires in high-rise buildings.
“We owe it to the bereaved families, the survivors and the residents - whose lives have been torn apart by what happened that night – to learn, change our service, and improve.
“We want to earn the trust of Londoners to serve and protect them. As part of our ongoing transformation, from next week we will be asking London’s communities to have their say on the future of the fire service in the capital.”
Training exercises currently underway across the Brigade also showcase the new and improved equipment the Brigade has introduced to help deal with incidents. Three 64 metre ladders – the tallest in Europe – are now in service, along with eight new 32 metre ladders. These new aerial appliances have three main purposes – to act as a water tower, a rescue tower and an observational tower. They will enhance LFB’s response to a variety of incidents including high-rise fires.
Fire escape hoods are now used by firefighters to help bring people out through smoke-filled environments safely. They are carried on all fire engines and provide a person with 15 minutes of clean, filtered air in a smoke-filled environment.
Later today, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will be joined by Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience Dr Fiona Twycross at a high-rise exercise at Hereford House in Brent to view the progress made by the Brigade.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was an appalling tragedy and we will always remember the 72 people who lost their lives. We owe it to the people who died, their loved ones and those who survived to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.
“That is why, since the fire, I have been working closely with London Fire Brigade and communities to ensure the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry are swiftly implemented to keep all Londoners safe.
“With City Hall support and funding there has been a complete overhaul of procedures and equipment, meaning that London Fire Brigade is now better prepared and equipped to fight fires and save lives. But there is still more to do. Nearly five years after the fire, I am extremely concerned the Government has failed to complete a single recommendation directed at them from the first phase of the Inquiry and too many Londoners are still at risk. It is vital that the Government and the housing and building industries act now to prevent small fires turning into major, life-threatening blazes.”
Dr Fiona Twycross, Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, said: “I welcome the significant and necessary steps the London Fire Brigade have taken since the Grenfell Tower tragedy to transform the way in which the fire service now responds to incidents – especially fires in high-rise buildings across the capital.
“London Fire Brigade now have the tallest ladders in Europe and firefighters now routinely carry fire escape hoods to help bring people out through smoke-filled environments safely. This will help save lives and the new approach to giving Fire Survival Guidance will also, crucially, allow the Brigade to better coordinate rescues between control rooms and firefighters on the ground.”
We are extremely grateful to Brent Council and all those connected with the building for allowing firefighters to use the block for this vital training. The ability to use real tower blocks allows for a more realistic training environment and we are appealing to anyone responsible for a disused high-rise block to consider contacting London Fire Brigade and offering it up as a venue.